A    FLAN 


TO  STOP  THE  1'KKSK.NT 


PKKYKNT  Fl  TIKE  WARS. 


BY  ROB'T  E.  BE^SLEY, 

A      l    I  T  \  '/.  K  N      O  I-'      K  I  O      VIS  T  A  .     ('  A  1.  I   \~  O  K  X  i  A 


•\TAIX!\<;   A    PROPOSE!)  CONSTITUTION   FOR  TIIK  (JKNKHAI. 
«;OVKHXMI-:\T  OF  THE  SOVE11KKJN  STATKS  OF 
XORTH  ,\XD  SOl'TH  AMERICA. 


FOR  SALE  RY  ALL  BOOKSELLERS, 

AD-)    !•>!  vv;inl<-tl    by    Wail   or    Kxprcss.   on   rec«-i|tt  ol'  1'i-in-. 

SJL\<;LE  c  OPIKS,  $1,00. 

I'<T   lluiiilct  (i,  :")<)<'ts.    per  Tojiy;    (><•)•  TiioiisaiHl ,  40  ("'Is.    |»-r  Cop 


•t  hf.ISHKH  MIK  TIIK  .Al'TllOl:   l.\   KN«.I.1SH    AM)  Sf 

RFO  VISTA,  CAL. 

18(34. 


A  PLAN 

TO  STOP  THE  PRESENT 

AND 

PREVENT  FUTURE  WARS. 


BY  ROB'T  E.  BEASLEY, 

A    CITIZEN    OP    BIO     VISTA,    CALIFORNIA. 


CONTAINING  A  PROPOSED  CONSTITUTION  FOR  THE  GENERAL 

GOVERNMENT  OF  THE  SOVEREIGN  STATES  OF 

NORTH  AND  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


FOR  SALE  BY  ALL  BOOKSELLERS, 
And  forwarded  by  Vail  or  Express,  ou  receipt  of  Price. 


COPIES,  $1,00. 

Ter  Hundred,  60  Cts.  per  Copy;  per  Thousand,  40  Cts,  per  Copy. 


PCBUSnED  FOR  THE  AimtOR  IN  ENGLISH  AND  SPANISH. 

RIO  VISTA,  CAL. 
18G4. 


PROCLAMATION. 


I,  Robert  E.  Beasley,  of  the  Twin  House  Rancho,  Solano 
County,  California,  issue  this  my  Proclamation,  number  one, 
that  the  present  war,  said  by  some  to  exist  in  the  United  States, 
shall  cease  by  limitation,  on  the  4th  day  of  March,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord,  1869,  under  penalty  of  my  sovereign  displeasure. 
I  issue  it  not  as  the  servant  of  Mexico,  China,  Louis  Napoleon, 
or  any  other  power,  unless  it  may  be  that  I  am  a  servant  of  God, 
(of  which  I  have  serious  doubts  for  reasons  that  I  may  some 
day  make  public),  but  as  one  of  the  many  thousands  of  sover- 
eign people  of  the  sovereign  State  of  California.  As  such  I 
issue  it.  ROBERT  E.  BESALEY. 

PLAN. 

I  now  respectfully  suggest  for  the  consideration  of  the  Gov- 
ernors of  the  several  States  concerned,  as  a  means  by  which  it 
may  be  stopped  at  an  earlier  date :  That  each  governor  issue 
writs  of  election  at  an  early  date,  requiring  all  legal  voters, 
under  penalty  of  one  thousand  dollars,  to  attend  the  polls  and 
vote  that  the  war  shall  be  vigorously  prosecuted,  or  that  it  shall 
stop.  If  the  "prosecution  of  the  war"  shall  have  received  the 
greatest  number  of  votes,  then  all  persons  so  voting,  and  all 
having  failed  to  vote,  shall  be  organized  and  placed  in  the  army, 
and  compelled  to  assist  in  prosecuting  the  war.  So  shall  they 
fight  with  courage,  and  each  according  to  his  desire,  as  to  the 
side  he  may  wish  to  fight  for. 

It  is  my  opinion  they  would  fight  with  such  a  will  and  "vim," 
as  to  deter  other  nations  from  interfering  in  our  domestic 
quarrels.  We  cannot  fight  always.  Too  long  a  continuance  of  the 
war  may  weaken  us  so  that  we  will  not  be  able  to  repel  foreign 


invasion,  and  if  so,  farewell  to  free  government  for  at  least  two 
thousand  years. 

I  cannot  comprehend  why  Union  men  want  Copperheads 
"drafted"  into  the  service.  For  instance,  suppose  Abraham 
Lincoln,  as  a  private  citizen,  should  say  to  me,  '•!  can  take  Gov- 
ernor Andrews  and  whip  or  kill  Governor  Low  and  yourself." 
1  should  certainly  accept  the  challenge,  if  I  believed  any  great 
good  would  result  from  it,  particularly  the  vanquishing  of  my 
foe,  and  in  the  meantime,  if  I  should  discover  that  Low  would 
rather  that  Lincoln  and  Andrews  should  whip,  I  would  greatly 
prefer  fighting  the  tliree  alone,  rather  than  have  Low  help  me 
whip  the  two. 

It  is  also  my  opinion  that  there  are  thousands  of  persons  who 
would  vote  that  the  war  shall  cease;  but  who  if  they  are  at  the 
polls,  would  like  to  take  a  hand  in  it,  and  if  so,  they  should  fight 
on  the  same  conditions  as  those  who  voted  that  the  war  should 
be  prosecuted.  And,  as  a  preventive  of  other  wrars,  I  do  res- 
pectfully submit  for  the  consideration  of  the  sovereign  people  of 
the  Sovereign  States  of  North  America,  the  following  Constitu- 
tion : 

CONSTITUTION 

OF  THE  GENERAL  GOVERNMENT  OF  THE  SOVEREIGN  STATES  OF  NORTH  AND 
SOUTH  AMERICA. 

PREAMBLE. 

We,  the  people  of  the  sovereign  States  of  North  and  South 
America,  in  order  to  stop  the  efTusion  of  human  blood,  establish 
Justice,  insure  Domestic  Tranquility,  provide  for  the  common 
Defense,  promote  the  General  Welfare,  secure  the  blessings  of 
Liberty  to  ourselves  and  our  posterity,  and  to  prepare  for  a 
better  or  worse  world,  as  we  may  individually  choose,  do  ordain, 
adopt  and  establish  this  Constitution  for  the  Sovereign  States  of 
North  and  South  America  : 

ARTICLE  I. 

SEC.  1.  All  legislative  power  herein  granted,  shall  be  vested 
in  a  Congress  of  the  general  Government  of  the  sovereign  States 
of  North  and  South  America,  which  shall  consist  of  a  Senate 
and  House  of  Representatives.  ^ 


SEC.  2.  The  House  of  Eeprcsentatives  shall  be  composed  of 
two  members  from  each  State,  chosen  every  second  year  by  the 
people  of  the  several  States,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
people  individually  to  vote  for  the  two  persons  that  they  believe 
to  be  the  best  in  those  States  for  the  position.  No  person  shall 
be  a  representative  who  shall  not  have  attained  the  age  of  twen- 
ty-one years,  and  been  five  years  a  citizen  of  some  one  of  the 
States,  Territories  or  Districts,  composing  the  general  Govern- 
ment of  the  soverign  States  of  North  and  South  America,  and 
who  shall  not  when  elected  be  an  inhabitant  of  the  State  or 
Territory  in  which  he  shall  be  chosen. 

Direct  taxes  shall  be  apportioned  among  the  several  States, 
which  may  be  included  within  the  general  Government  of  the 
Sovereign  States  of  North  and  South  America,  in  proportion  to 
the  amount  of  real  and  personal  property  of  the  several  States,  to 
be  ascertained  from  the  assessor's  returns  of  the  several  counties 
of  the  several  States. 

When  vacancies  happen  in  the  representation  from  any  State, 
the  executive  authority  thereof  shall  issue  writs  of  election  to 
fill  such  vacancies.  The  House  of  Representatives  shall  choose 
their  Speaker,  and  other  officers,  and  shall  have  the  sole  power 
of  impeachment. 

SEC.  3.  The  Senate  of  the  general  Government  shall  be 
composed  of  one  Senator  from  each  State,  chosen  by  the  people 
thereof  for  six  years,  and  each  Senator  shall  have  one  vote,  and 
it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  people  to  vote  for  the  person  that 
they  individually  believe  to  be  the  best  man  in  the  State  for  the 
office  of  Senator.  Immediately  after  they  shall  be  assembled 
in  consequence  of  the  first  election,  they  shall  be  divided  as 
equally  as  maybe,  into  three  classes.  The  seats  of  the  Senators 
of  the  first  class  shall  be  vacated  at  the  expiration  of  the  second 
year,  and  of  the  second  class  at  the  expiration  of  the  fourth 
year,  and  the  third  class  at  the  expiration  of  the  sixth  year. 
And  if  vacancies  happen  by  resignation,  or  otherwise,  the  exec- 
utive authority  of  the  State  shall  issue  writs  of  election  to 
fill  such  vacancy.  No  person  shall  be  a  Senator  who  shall  not 


have  attained  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  and  b°,en  five  years  a 
citizen  of  some  one  of  the  States  composing  the  general  Govern- 
ment of  said  Sovereign  States,  and  who  shall  not  when  elected, 
be  an  inhabitant  of  that  State  for  which  he  shall  be  chosen. 

The  Vice  President  of  the  general  Government  of  the  sover- 
eign States  of  North  and  South  America,  shall  be  President  of 
the  Senate,  but  shall  have  no  vote  unless  they  be  equally  divided. 

The  Senate  shall  choose  their  other  officers,  and  also  a  Presi- 
dent pro  tempore,  in  the  absence  of  the  Vice  President,  or  when 
he  shall  exercise  the  functions  and  fill  the  office  of  President  of 
the  general  Government.  The  Senate  shall  have  the  sole  power 
to  try  all  impeachments.  When  sitting  for  that  purpose  they 
shall  be  under  oath  or  affirmation.  When  the  President  of  the 
general  Government  is  tried,  the  Chief  Justice  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  of  the  general  Government  shall  preside,  and  no 
person  shall  be  convicted  without  the  concurrence  of  three- 
fifths  of  the  members  present.  Judgment  in  cases  of 
impeachment  shall  not  extend  further  than  to  removal  from 
office,  and  disqualification  to  hold  and  enjoy  any  office  of 
honor,  trust  or  profit  under  the  said  general  Government ; 
but  the  party  convicted  shall  nevertheless  be  liable  and 
subject  to  indictment,  trial,  judgment  and  punishment  according 
to  law. 

SEC.  4.  The  times,  places  and  manner  of  holding  elections 
for  Senators  and  Representatives,  shall  be  prescribed  in  each 
State  by  the  Legislature  thereof.  The  Congress  shall  assemble 
at  least  once  in  each  year,  and  such  meeting  shall  be  on  the 
second  Monday  in  February,  unless  they  shall  by  law  appoint  a 
different  day. 

SEC.  5.  Each  house  shall  be  the  judge  of  the  election  returns 
and  qualifications  of  its  own  members,  and  a  majority  of  each 
shall  constitute  a  quorum  to  do  business  ;  but  a  smaller  number 
may  adjourn  from  day  to  day,  and  may  be  authorized  to  compel 
the  attendance  of  absent  members,  in  such  manner,  and  under 
such  penalties  as  each  house  may  provide.  Each  house  may 
determine  the  rules  of  its  proceedings,  punish  its  members  for 


disorderly  behavior,  and,  with  the  concurrence  of  two-thirds, 
expel  a  member.  Each  house  shall  keep  a  journal  of  its  proceed- 
ings, and  from  time  to  time  publish  the  same,  excepting  such 
parts  as  may  in  their  judgment  require  secrecy,  and  the  yeas 
and  nays  of  the  members  of  either  house,  on  any  question, 
shall,  at  the  desire  of  one-sixth  of  those  present,  be  entered  on 
the  journals.  Neither  house  during  the  session  of  Congress 
shall,  without  the  consent  of  the  othsr,  adjourn  for  more  than 
two  days,  nor  to  any  other  place  than  that  in  which  the  two 
houses  shall  be  sitting. 

SEC.  6.  The  Senators  and  Representatives  shall  receive  a 
compensation  of  five  dollars  per  day  for  their  services,  together 
with  their  expenses  in  going  to  and  returning  from  Congress, 
to  be  paid  out  of  the  treasury  of  the  general  Government  of  the 
sovereign  States  of  North  and  South  America.  They  shall  in 
all  cases,  except  lying,  treason,  felony  and  breach  of  the  peace, 
be  privileged  from  arrest  during  their  attendance  at  session  of 
their  respective  houses,  and  in  going  to  and  returning  from  the 
same.  And  for  any  speech  or  debate  in  either  house  they  shall 
not  be  questioned  in  any  other  place. 

No  Senator  or  Representative  shall  during  the  term  of  his 
office,  be  appointed  to  any  civil  office  under  the  general  Govern- 
ment, which  shall  have  been  created,  or  the  emoluments  whereof 
shall  have  been  increased  during  such  time;  and  no  person, 
holding  any  office  under  the  general  Government,  shall  be  a 
member  of  either  house  during  such  continuance  in  office. 

SEC.  7.  All  bills  for  raising  revenue  shall  originate  in  the 
House  of  Representatives,  but  the  Senate  may  propose  or  con- 
cur with  amendments  as  in  other  bills.  Every  bill  having 
passed  both  houses  shall,  before  it  becomes  effectual  as  a  law,  be 
signed  by  the  President  of  the  general  Government  as  a  mark  of 
approval,  otherwise  he  shall  return  it  to  the  house  in  which  it 
originated,  with  his  objections  thereto ;  said  objections  shall  be 
entered  in  full  on  their  journal.  The  house  shall  then  proceed  to 
reconsider  it,  and  if  two-thirds  of  that  house  agree  to  pass  the 
bill,  it  shall  be  sent,  together  with  the  objections,  to  the  other 


8 

house,  by  which  it  shall  be  likewise  reconsidered,  and  if  ap- 
proved by  two-thirds  of  that  house,  it  shall  become  a  law.  But 
in  all  such  cases  the  votes  of  both  houses  shall  be  determined  by 
yeas  and  nays  and  the  names  of  the  persons  voting  for  and 
against  the  bill  shall  be  entered  on  the  journal  of  each  house 
respectively.  Jf  any  bill  shall  not  be  returned  by  the  President 
within  sixteen  days,  Sundays  excepted,  after  it  shall  have  been 
presented  him,  the  same  shall  be  a  law  in  like  manner  as  if  he 
had  signed  it,  unless  the  Congress  by  their  adjournment,  prevent 
its  return,  in  wrhich  case  it  shall  not  be  a  law.  Every  order, 
resolution,  or  vote,  to  which  the  concurrence  of  the  Senate  and 
House  of  Representatives  may  be  necesssary  (except  on  a  ques- 
tion of  adjournment),  shall  be  presented  to  the  President  of  the 
general  Government,  and  before  the  same  shall  take  effect,  shall 
be  approved  by  him,  or  being  disapproved  by  him,  may  be  re- 
passed  by  two-thirds  of  the  Senate  and  lower  house,  according 
to  the  rules  aud  limitations  prescribed  in  the  case  of  a  bill. 

SEC.  8.  Congress  shall  have  power  to  levy  and  collect  taxes, 
duties,  imposts,  and  excises,  in  all  the  States,  Territories,  dis- 
tricts, and  colonies  of  the  general  Government,  to  pay  the  debts, 
and  provide  for  the  common  defense  and  general  welfare  of  all 
the  States,  Territories,  districts,  and  colonies  composing  the 
general  Government,  but  all  duties,  imposts  and  excises,  shall  be 
uniform  throughout  the  said  general  Government.  To  borrow 
money  on  the  credit  of  the  general  Government,  to  regulate 
commerce  with  foreign  nations  and  among  the  several  States, 
Territories,  districts,  and  colonies,  and  Indian  tribes.  To  estab- 
lish an  uniform  system  of  naturalization,  and  uniform  laws  of 
bankruptcy.  To  coin  money,  regulate  the  value  thereof,  and  of 
foreign  coin,  and  fix  the  standard  of  weights  and  measures.  To 
provide  for  the  punishment  of  counterfeiting  the  securities  and 
current  coin  of  the  Government.  To  establish  post  offices  and 
post  roads.  To  promote  the  progress  of  science  and  the  useful 
arts,  by  securing  for  limited  times  to  authors  and  inventors,  the 
exclusive  right  to  their  respective  productions  and  inventions. 
To  constitute  tribunals  inferior  to  the  Supreme  Court.  To  de- 


fine  and  punish  piracies  and  felonies  committed  on  the  high  seas, 
and  offences  against  the  laws  of  nations.  To  declare  war,  grant 
letters  of  marque  and  reprisal,  and  make  rules  concerning  cap- 
tures on  land  and  water.  To  raise  and  support  armies,  but  no 
appropriation  of  money  for  that  purpose,  shall  be  for  a  longer 
term  than  two  years.  To  provide  and  maintain  a  navy.  To 
make  rules  for  the  government  of  the  land  and  naval  forces.  To 
provide  for  calling  forth  the  militia  into  the  regular  army,  to  ex- 
ecute laws  of  the  general  Government  of  the  Sovereign  States 
of  North  and  South  America,  suppress  insurrections  and  repel 
invasions.  [There  is  no  such  thing  as  rebellion  in  a  republican 
or  democratic  government.  The  masses  of  the  people  never 
rebel  against  good  government,  and  they  have  a  right  to  change 
or  alter  their  government  when  and  as  they  please.]  To  pro- 
vide for  organizing,  arming  and  disciplining  the  militia,  and  for 
governing  such  part  of  them  as  may  be  employed  in  the  service 
of  the  general  Government  of  the  Sovereign  States  of  North 
and  South  America,  reserving  to  the  States  respectively  the  ap- 
pointment of  the  officers,  and  the  authority  of  training  the 
militia,  according  to  the  discipline  prescribed  by  Congress.  To 
exercise  exclusive  legislation  in  all  cases  whatsoever,  over  such 
district,  (not  exceeding  forty  miles  square),  as  may  by  cession  of 
particular  States,  and  the  acceptance  of  Congress,  become  the 
seat  of  the  general  Government,  and  to  exercise  like  authority 
over  all  places  purchased  by  the  consent  of  the  Legislature 
of  the  State  in  which  the  same  shall  be,  for  the  erection  of 
forts,  magazines,  arsenals,  dockyards,  and  other  needful  build- 
ings, and  to  make  all  laws  which  shall  be  necessary  and  proper 
for  carrying  into  execution  the  foregoing  powers,  and  all  other 
powers  vested  by  this  constitution  in  the  government  of  the 
General  government  of  the  Sovereign  States  of  North  and 
South  America,  or  in  any  department  thereof,  or  any  officer 
thereof. 

SEC.  9.  A  well  regulated  militia  being  necessary  to  the 
security  of  a  free  State,  the  right  of  the  people  to  keep  and  bear 
arms  shall  not  be  infringed. 


10 

No  soldier  shall,  in  the  time  of  peace,  be  quartered  in  any 
house  without  the  consent  of  the  owner,  nor  in  time  of  war,  but 
in  a  manner  to  be  prescribed  by  law.  The  right  of  the  people 
to  be  secure  in  their  persons,  houses,  papers  and  effects,  against 
unreasonable  searches  and  seizures,  shall  not  be  violated,  and  no 
warrants  shall  issue  but  upon  probable  cause,  supported  by  oath 
or  affirmation,  and  particularly  describing  the  place  to  be 
searched,  and  the  persons  or  things  to  be  seized.  No  person 
shall  be  held  to  answer  for  a  capital  offence,  or  otherwise  infa- 
mous crime,  unless  on  the  presentation  or  indictment  of  a  grand 
jury,  except  in  cases  arising  in  the  land  or  naval  forces  or  in  the 
militia,  when  in  actual  service,  in  time  of  war  and  public  danger. 
Nor  shall  any  innocent  person,  having  committed  no  crime,  and 
not  charged  with  any  crime,  be  arrested.  Nor  shall  any  person 
be  subject  for  the  same  offence  to  be  twice  put  in  jeopardy  of 
life  or  limb,  nor  shall  be  compelled  in  any  criminal  case  to  be  a 
witness  against  himself,  nor  to  be  deprived  of  life,  liberty  or 
property  without  due  process  of  law,  nor  shall  private  property 
be  taken  for  public  use  without  just  compensation. 

SEC.  10.  The  privilege  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  shall 
not  be  suspended,  unless  when  in  case  of  invasion,  the  public 
safety  may  require  it,  and  then  by  no  power  but  Congress.  No 
bill  of  attainder  or  ex  post  facto  law  shall  be  passed.  No  capi- 
tation or  other  direct  tax,  shall  be  laid  unless  in  proportion  to 
the  amount  of  real  and  personal  property,  to  be  ascertained  from 
the  assessor's  returns  of  the  different  counties  of  the  different 
States.  No  tax  or  duty  shall  be  laid  on  any  articles  exported 
from  any  State.  No  preference  shall  be  given  by  any  regulation 
of  commerce  or  revenue,  to  the  ports  of  one  State  over  those 
of  another,  nor  shall  vessels  bound  to  or  from  one  State,  be 
obliged  to  enter,  clear  or  pay  duties  in  another.  No  money 
shall  be  drawn  from  the  treasury  but  in  consequence  of  appro- 
priations made  by  law,  and  a  regular  statement  and  account  of 
the  receipts  and  expenditures  of  all  public  money  shall  be  pub- 
lished from  time  to  time.  In  all  criminal  prosecutions  the 
accused  shall  enjoy  the  right  to  a  speedy,  impartial  and  public 


11 

trial,  by  an  impartial  jury  of  the  State  and  district  wherein  the 
crime  shall  have  been  committed,  (which  district  shall  have  been 
previously  ascertained  by  law),  and  to  be  informed  of  the  na- 
ture and  cause  of  the  accusation,  to  be  confronted  with  the  wit- 
nesses against  him,  to  have  compulsory  process  for  obtaining 
witnesses  in  his  favor,  and  to  have  the  assistance  of  counsel  for 
his  defense.  No  title  of  nobility  shall  be  granted  by  the  general 
Government,  and  no  person  holding  any  office  of  profit  or  "trust 
under  them  shall,  without  the  consent  of  Congress,  accept  of 
any  present,  emolument,  office,  or  title  of  any  kind  whatever, 
from  any  king,  prince  or  foreign  State.  No  State  shall  enter 
into  any  treaty,  alliance  or  confederation,  grant  letters  of  marque 
and  reprisal,  coin  money,  emit  bills  of  credit,  make  anything 
but  gold  and  silver  coin  a  tender  in  payment  of  debts,  pass  any 
bill  of  attainder,  ex  post  facto  law,  or  law  impairing  the  obliga- 
tion of  contracts,  or  grant  any  title  of  nobility. 

No  State  shall,  without  the  consent  of  the  Congress,  lay  any 
impost  or  duties  on  imports  or  exports,  except  what  may  be  ab- 
solutely necessary  for  executing  its  inspection  laws  ;  and  the  net 
produce  of  all  duties  and  imposts  laid  by  any  State  on  imports 
or  exports,  shall  be  for  the  use  of  the  treasury  of  the  general 
Government,  and  all  such  laws  shall  be  subject  to  the  revision 
and  control  of  Congress.  No  State  shall  without  the  consent 
of  Congress,  lay  any  duty  on  tonage,  keep  troops  or  ships  of 
war  in  time  of  peace,  enter  into  any  agreement  or  compact  with 
another  State,  or  with  a  foreign  power,  or  engage  in  war  unless 
actually  invaded,  or  in.  such  imminent  danger  as  will  not  admit 
of  delay. 

ARTICLE  II. 

SEC.  1.  The  Executive  power  shall  be  vested  in  a  President  of 
the  General  government  of  the  Sovereign  States  of  both 
North  and  South  America,  he  shall  hold  office  during  the 
term  of  four  years  and  shall  not  hold  the  office  two  terms  in 
succession,  and  together  with  the  Vice  President  chosen  for 
the  same  term  elected  as  follows  : 

The  people  of  all  the  States,  Territories  and  Districts,  shall 


12 

meet  at  their  respective  precincts  on  the  second  Thursday  of 
October,  and  vote  for  the  person  they  individually  believe  to 
be  the  best  or  as  good  a  man  as  any  citizen  of  the  general 
Government,  regardless  of  what  part  of  the  general  Govern- 
ment of  which  he  is  a  citizen  ;  the  name  and  location  of  the 
person  voted  for  shall  be  distinctly  written  upon  each  ballot  ; 
the  authorities  shall  make  a  distinct  list  of  all  persons  voted 
for  and  the  number  of  votes  for  each,  which  list  they  shall 
sign,  certify  and  transmit  sealed  to  the  seat  of  government 
of  the  general  Government,  directed  to  the  President  of  the 
Senate,  and  he  shall  in  the  presence  of  the  Senate  and  lower 
house,  open  all  the  certificates,  and  the  votes  shall  then  be 
counted.  The  person  having  the  greatest  number  of  votes 
for  President  shall  be  declared  so  elected,  and  the  person  hav- 
ing the  next  greatest  number  of  votes  for  President,  shall  be 
Vice  President.  If  two  or  more  persons  receiving  the  greatest 
number  of  votes  receive  an  equal  number  of  votes,  the  Senate 
shall  decide  by  ballot  which  of  them  shall  be  President,  and  if 
there  be  but  two,  the  other  shall  be  Vice  President,  if  more  than 
two,  then  the  House  of  Representatives  shall  decide  by  ballot 
which  shall  be  Vice  President.  But  no  person  constiutionally 
ineligible  to  the  office  of  President  shall  be  eligible  for  Vice 
President.  JSTo  person  except  a  natural  born  citizen  of  some 
one  of  the  States  or  Territories  or  Districts  of  the  Government 
shall  be  eligible  to  the  office  of  President,  neither  shall  any 
person  be  eligible  to  that  office  who  shall  not  have  attained  the 
age  of  thirty  years  and  been  twenty-one  years  a  citizen  of 
one  of  the  States,  Territories  or  Districts  of  the  general  Gov- 
ernment. Upon  determining  the  election  as  above,  Congress 
shall  provide  for  the  publication  and  thorough  distribution  of 
a  certified  copy  of  the  election  returns  for  President.  In 
case  of  the  removal  of  the  President  from  office,  or  of  his 
death,  resignation  or  inability  to  discharge  the  duties  of  his 
office,  the  same  shall  devolve  on  the  Vice  President.  And 
Congress  may  by  law  provide  for  the  removal,  death,  resigna- 
tion or  inability  of  both  the  President  and  Vice  President, 


13 

declaring  what  officer  shall  act  as  President,  and  he  shall  so 
act  accordingly  until  the  disability  be  removed  or  the  next 
President  elected.  The  President  shall  at  stated  times  receive 
for  his  services  the  compensation  of  forty  thousand  dollars  a 
year,  and  he  shall  not  receive  within  that  period  any  other 
emolument  from  the  Government.  Before  he  enters  on  the 
execution  of  his  office,  he  shall  take  the  following  oath  or 
affirmation. 

I  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  I  will  faithfully  execute 
the  office  of  President  of  the  general  Government  of  the 
Sovereign  States  of  North  and  South  America,  and  will  to  the 
best  of  my  ability  preserve,  protect,  obey  and  defend  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  general  Government  of  the  sovereign  States 
of  North  and  South  America. 

SEC.  2.  The  President  shall  be  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
the  army  and  navy  of  the  general  Government  of  the  Sover- 
eign States  of  North  and  South  America,  and  of  the  militia  of 
the  several  States  when  called  into  actual  service  of  the  gen- 
eral Government  ;  he  may  require  the  opinion  in  writing,  of 
the  principle  officers  in  each  of  the  Executive  Departments 
upon  any  subject  relating  to  the  duties  of  their  respective 
offices,  and  he  shall  have  power  to  grant  reprieves  and  par- 
dons for  offences  against  the  general  Government,  except  in 
cases  of  lying,  larceny  and  impeachment.  He  shall  have 
power  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate  to 
make  treaties,  provided  two-thirds  of  the  Senators  present  con- 
cur, and  he  shall  nominate  and  by  and  with  the  advice  and 
consent  of  the  Senate  shall  appoint  Ambassadors  and  other 
public  Ministers  and  Consuls,  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court, 
and  all  other  officers  of  the  general  Government  of  the  Sov- 
ereign States  of  North  and  South  America,  whose  appoint- 
ments are  not  herein  otherwise  provided  for,  and  which  shall 
be  established  by  law.  But  Congress  may  by  law  vest  the 
appointment  of  such  inferior  officers  as  they  think  proper  in 
the  President  alone,  in  the  courts  of  law  or  in  the  heads  of  de- 
partments. The  President  shall  have  the  power  to  fill  up  all 


vacancies  that  may  happen  during-  the  recess  of  the  Senate  by 
granting;  commissions  which  shall  expire  at  the  end  of  their 
next  session. 

SEC.  3.  He  shall  from  time  to  time  give  Congress  infor- 
mation of  the  state  of  the  Government,  and  recommend  to 
their  consideration  such  measures  as  he  shall  judge  necessary 
and  expedient  ;  he  may  on  extraordinary  occasions  convene 
both  houses,  or  either  of  them,  arid  in  case  of  disagreement 
between  them  with  respect  to  the  time  of  adjournment  he  may 
adjourn  them  to  such  $ime  as  he  shall  think  proper  ;  he  shall 
receive  Ambassadors  and  other  public  ministers  ;  he  shall  take 
care  that  the  laws  be  faithfully  executed — and  shall  commis- 
sion all  the  officers  of  the  general  Government. 

SEC.  4.     The  President,  Vice  President  and  all  civil  officers 
or  servants  of  the  general  Government  shall  be  removed  from 
office  on  impeachment  for  and  conviction  of  lying,  larceny 
or  other  high  crimes  and  misdemeanors. 
ARTICLE    III. 

SEC.  1.  The  judicial  power  of  the  Government  shall  be 
vested  in  Supreme  Court,  and  in  such  inferior  courts  as 
Congress  may  ordain  and  establish.  The  judges  both  of  the 
Supreme  courts  and  all  inferior  courts  shall  hold  their  offices 
during  good  behavior,  and  shall  receive  for  their  services  a 
salary  to  be  fixed  by  law  and  not  to  be  diminished  during 
their  continuance  in  office. 

SEC.  2.  The  judicial  power  shall  extend  to  all  cases  in  law 
and  equity  arising  under  this  Constitution  and  the  laws  of 
the  general  Government,  and  treaties,  which  shall  be  made 
under  their  authority  ;  to  all  cases  affecting  Ambassadors  and 
other  public  Ministers  and  Consuls  ;  to  all  cases  of  admiralty 
and  maratimc  jurisdiction  ;  to  controversies  in  which  the  Gov- 
ernment may  be  a  party  or  between  States,  or  between  a  State 
and  the  citizens  of  another  State,  between  citizens  of  different 
States,  between  citizens  of  the  same  State  claiming  lands 
under  grants  of  different  States,  the  general  Government, 
and  between  a  State  or  its  citizens  and  a  foreign  State  or 


15 

subject.  In  all  cases  affecting  Ambassadors,  Ministers  and 
Consuls,  or  where  a  State  be  a  party  the  Supreme  Court  shall 
have  original  jurisdiction,  in  all  other  cases  before  mentioned 
it  shall  have  appellate  jurisdiction,  both  as  to  law  and  fact 
under  such  exceptions  and  regulations  as  Congress  shall  make. 
The  trials  for  all  crimes  except  impeachment  shall  be  by  jury, 
and  held  in  the  State  where  the  crime  was  committed,  if 
committed  in  no  State  then  in  such  place  as  Congress 
by  law  shall  direct.  In  all  criminal  prosecutions  the  accused 
shall  have  a  speedy,  impartial  and  public  trial  as  a  right 
by  him  to  be  enjoyed,  said  trial  to  be  by  an  impartial 
jury  in  the  District  where  the  crime  was  committed,  said  Dis- 
trict being  previously  ascertained  by  law.  He  shall  be  in- 
formed of  the  nature  and  cause  of  the  accusation  and  be  con- 
fronted with  the  witnesses  against  him  and  be  entitled  to  com- 
pulsory process  for  obtaining  his  witnesses,  and  entitled  to  the 
benefit  of  counsel  in  his  defense.  In  suits  at  common  law 
where  the  thing  in  controversy  exceeds  in  value  five  dollars,  the 
right  of  trial  by  jury  shall  be  preserved,  and  no  fact  tried  by  a 
jury  shall  be  otherwise  re-examined  in  any  court  of  the  Gov- 
ernment, than  according  to  the  rules  of  common  law. 

SEC.  3.  Treason  against  the  general  Government  shall 
consist  only  in  levying  war  against  it,  adhereing  to  its  ene- 
mies or  in  giving  them  aid  and  comfort.  Ko  person  shall  be 
convicted  of  treason,  except  on  the  evidence  of  two  witnesses 
to  some  overt  act  or  by  confession  in  open  court.  Congress 
shall  have  the  power  to  fix  the  punishment  for  treason,  but  no 
attainder  of  treason  shall  work  a  corruption  of  blood,  or  for- 
feiture except  during  the  life  of  the  person  attaineditt^-^^j. 

SEC.  4.  Excessive  bail  shall  riot  be  required  nor  excessive 
fines  imposed  nor  cruel  and  unusual  punishments  inflicted 
(except  as  hereinafter  prescribed.)  Any  officer  or  servant  of 
the  general  Government  who  shall  steal  or  appropriate  to  his 
own  use  any  property  or  money  belonging  to  Government  to 
the  amount  of  five  thousand  dollars,  shall  on  conviction  be 
sentenced  by  the  Court  to  be  imprisoned  one  day  for  each  dollar 


stolen,  together  with  such  fine  as  the  Court  may  see  proper  to 
impose,  which  when  collected  shall  be  paid  over  to  the  treasurer 
of  the  general  Government,  and  by  him  placed  to  the  credit 
of  the  General  Fund  to  be  created  by  Congress,  for  the  em- 
bellishment and  improvement  of  the  National  Cemetery  to  be 
located  in  the  lee  side  or  end  of  the  district  that  may  be  selec- 
ted for  the  capital  of  the  general  Government.  Any  officer 
stealing  to  the  amount  of  ten  thousand  dollars  shall  be  impris- 
oned for  life,  with  a  fine  as  last  above,  to  the  same  use.  Any 
officer  so  stealing  in  any  amount  over  ten  thousand  dollars, 
shall  be  hung  with  a  rope  by  the  neck  till  dead,  and  his  pro- 
perty shall  be  confiscated  to  the  same  General  Fund  as  above  if 
he  have  neither  wife  nor  children  ;  and  no  such  person  shall 
be  buried  in  the  National  Cemetery. 

SEC.  5.  The  enumeration  in  this  constitution  of  certain  rights 
shall  not  be  construed  to  deny  or  disparage  others  retained  by 
the  people.  Powers  not  delegated  to  the  general  Govern- 
ment nor  prohibited  to  the  States  herein,  are  reserved  to  the 
States  respectively,  or  to  the  people. 

The  judicial  power  of  the  general  Government  shall  not: 
be  holden  to  extend  to  suits  in  law  or  in  equity  commenced 
or  prosecuted  against  one  of  the  States  composing  a  part  of 
the  general  Government  by  citizens  of  another  State,  or  by 
citizens  or  subjects  of  any  foreign  State. 
ARTICLE  IV. 

SEC.  1.  Full  faith  and  credit  shall  be  given  in  each  State 
to  the  public  acts,  records  and  judicial  proceeding  of  every 
other  State,  and  the  Congress  may  by  general  laws  prescribe 
the  manner  in  which  such  acts,  records  and  proceedings  shall 
be  proven  and  the  effects  thereof.  BftPCTPf t  L JbTttT^ 

SEC.  2.  The  citizens  of  each  State  shall  be  entitled  to  all 
privileges  and  immunities  of  citizens  in  the  several  States.  A 
criminal  charged  in  any  State  with  any  crime,  who  flees  from 
said  State  into  any  other,  shall,  on  demand  of  the  Executive 
of  said  State,  be  delivered  up  to  the  State  claiming  jurisdiction 
of  said  charge. 


17 

SEC.  3.  No  State  or  Nation  has  any  right  to  interfere  or 
meddle  with  the  domestic  concerns  of  any  other  State  or 
Nation.  Any  State  composing  part  and  parcel  of  the  gener- 
al Government,  having  interfered  as  above,  shall  be  expelled 
from  the  general  Government  by  a  majority  vote  of  Congress, 
and  shall  not  be  re-admitted  under  any  condition,  for  fifty 
years  after  such  expulsion,  when  she  may  be  re-admitted  on 
such  conditions  and  terms  as  Congress  may  direct.  Any  leg- 
islature of  any  State,  passing  any  law  making  it  criminal  or 
improper  for  its  citizens  to  ca^y  out  or  assist  in  executing 
any  clause  of  this  Constitution,  or  any  constitutional  law  of 
Congress,  then  the  legislators  composing  said  legislature,  shall 
be  deemed  nullifiers,  and  on  conviction,  shall  be  punished  for 
the  same  with  the  penalties  of  treason  against  the  general 
Government,  unless  said  law  shall  have  been  presented  to  the 
people  and  by  them  ratified  by  ballot,  then  the  State  shall  be 
expelled  from  the  general  Government,  as  in  the  last  case, 
and  riot  be  again  re-admitted  for  twenty-five  years,  then  she 
may  return  on  such  terms  as  Congress  may  dictate.  Any  State 
entering  into  any  treaty,  alliance  or  confederation,  granting 
letter  of  marque  or  reprisal,  coining  money,  emitting  bills  of 
credit,  making  anything  but  gold  and  silver  coin  a  tender  in. 
payment  of  debts,  passing  any  bill  of  attainder,  ex  post  facto 
law,  or  law  impairing  the  obligation  of  contracts,  or  grant 
any  title  of  nobility,  may  be  expelled  from  the  general  Gov- 
ernment by  a  vote  of  seven-eighths  of  Congress,  and  she  may 
be  re-admitted  on  paying  into  the  treasury  of  the  general 
Government  $100,000,  and  removing  the  cause  of  expulsion. 
Any  State  passing  an  ordinance  of  secession,  shall  forfeit  all 
claim  to  all  territory  belonging  to  the  general  Government, 
the  navy,  and  all  other  property  belonging  to  the  general  Gov- 
ernment, except  such  as  may  be  within  her  State  limits,  and 
shall  pay  her  portion  of  all  debts  the  general  Government  may 
owe  at  the  time,  and  she  shall  be  put  into  peaceable  possession  of 
all  forts,  magazines,  arsenals,  dockyards,  and  all  other  property 
belonging  to  the  general  Government,  that  are  located  within 
her  State  limits. 


18 

SEC.  4.  Any  State  having  been  expelled,  or  having-  with- 
drawn, shall  forfeit  all  claim  to  all  property  of  the  general 
government,  except  all  the  property  within  her  State  limits, 
which,  with  all  dockyards,  houses,  forts  and  arsenals,  shall  be 
delivered  to  her  upon  her  paying  her  portion  of  the  debt  of 
the  general  Government  then  owing.  She  shall,  however,  be 
entitled  to  a  credit,  or  delivery  of  her  portion  of  any  surplus 
money  in  the  general  Government  treasury.  And  in  case  of 
her  return,  she  shall  receive  no  credit  for  the  forts,  arsenals, 
dockyards,  &c.,  in  her  limits*  but  they  shall  become  the  pro- 
perty of  the  general  Government,  and  she  shall  pay  back  to 
the  general  Government  the  sum,  if  any,  drawn  therefrom  at 
the  date  of  secession,  nor  shall  she  receive  credit  for  the 
amount  of  debt  paid  by  her  as  her  portion  of  the  national 
indebtedness. 

SEC.  5.  After  war  shall  have  ceased  in  the  old  world,  and 
they  may  not  be  able  to  provide  for  their  servants  or  subjects, 
the  people  of  any  State  desiring  to  purchase  them,  may  do  so 
by  the  consent  of  Congress,  and  all  such  white  servants  shall 
become  citizens  of  such  State  after  a  service  of  fifteen  years, 
and  their  heirs  after  such  service  shall  be  citizens  of  the  gen- 
eral Government,  and  vote  for  President,  Senator,  or  Repre- 
sentative, or  fill  either  office  if  elected. 

SEC.  6.  No  person  held  to  service  or  labor  in  one  State 
under  the  laws  thereof,  escaping  to  another  shall,  in  conse- 
quence of  any  law  or  regulation  therein,  be  discharged  from 
such  service  or  labor,  but  shall  be  delivered  up  on  claim  of 
the  party  to  whom  such  labor  or  service  may  be  due.  No 
property,  held  as  property  in  one  State,  under  the  laws  thereof, 
getting  into  any  other  State,  shall  cease  to  be  property  because 
of  any  law  or  regulation  of  that  State,  but  shall  be  given  up 
to  the  owner. 

SEC.  7.  New  States  may  be  admitted  by  Congress,  but  no 
new  State  shall  be  formed  or  erected  within  the  jurisdiction  of 
any  other  State,  nor  be  formed  by  the  juncture  of  two  or  more 
States,  or  parts  thereof,  without  the  consent  of  the  Legisla- 
tures of  the  States  concerned,  as  well  as  Congress. 


19 

Old  States,  and  combinations  of  States,  may  be  admitted 
into  the  general  Government.  All  their  territory  and  navy 
shall  be  turned  over  to  the  Government  at  such  price  as  Con- 
gress may  think  just.  All  her  forts,  dockyards,  and  like 
property  shall  be  delivered  to  the  general  Government 
without  price. 

SEC.  8.  Congress  shall  have  power  to  dispose  of  and  make 
all  needful  rules  and  regulations  respecting  the  territory  or 
other  property  belonging  to  the  general  Government  ;  but 
nothing  in  this  Constitution  shall  be  construed  to  the  prejudice 
of  any  claim  of  any  State  or  combination  of  States.  All 
property  shall  be  equally  protected  by  law  in  all  the  Territo- 
ries, districts,  and  colonies  of  the  general  Government.  The 
citizens  of  each  and  all  States  may  move  to  and  settle  in  any 
territory  belonging  to  the  general  Government,  taking  with 
them  any  and  everything  that  is  property  in  the  State  from 
which  they  moved  and  any  and  everything  that  is  property  in 
any  one  of  the  States,  shall  be  property  in  all  the  Territories. 
When  a  Territory  forms  a  State  Government,  she  shall  enumer- 
ate what  shall  and  what  shall  not  be  property  in  her  State,  and 
any  property  so  declared  not  to  be  held  as  property  in  the  future 
State,  may  be  removed  to  where  it  properly  belongs,  within 
two  years  from  the  ratification  of  the  State  Constitution. 
No  power  within  the  geographical  limits  of  the  general  Gov- 
ernment, shall  have  the  power  to' decide  what  shall  and  what 
shall  not  be  property,  except  the  States  composing  the  said 
general  Government,  and  they  only  within  their  State  limits. 

SEC.  9.  The  general  Government  shall  guarantee  to  every 
State  in  the  general  Government,  a  republican  form  of  gov- 
ernment, and  shall  protect  each  of  them  against  invasion,  arid 
on  application  of  the  legislature,  against  domestic  violence. 
At  any  time  that  the  Government  may  need  more  troops  than 
the  regular  army,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  President,  (having 
been  authorized  by  Congress),  to  call  on  the  governors  of  the 
several  States  for  their  quota,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
governors  to  call  on  the  people  to  volunteer  to  fill  such  quota. 


If  they  fail,   he  shall  order  a  draft  to  fill  it,  if  it  require  all 
the  males  and  half  the  females  in  his  State. 

SEC.  10.  Adopts  what  is  generally  known  as  the  Monroe 
Doctrine,  and  authorizes  Congress,  in  case  it  shall  be  necessary 
to  use  force  to  maintain  it,  to  invite  the  co-operation  of  other 
Governments. 

SEC.  11.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  Congress  to  provide 
against  the  extermination  in  any  way  of  all  the  different 
grades  of  the  human  family  that  are  now  among  us. 

SEC.  12.  No  State  having  a  republican  form  of  govern- 
ment shall  be  refused  admittance  into  the  general  Govern- 
ment on  the  ground  of  their  having  or  not  having  two  or 
more  husbands  to  one  wife,  or  vice  versa,  white  or  black 
slavery,  or  any  other  rule  or  regulation  of  their  own,  which 
does  not  conflict  with  this  Constitution 

Any  State  having  white  or  black  slavery,  may  abolish  the 
same. 

Any  State  desiring  to  have  white  or  black  slavery,  may  have 
it  if  they  choose  (the  majority  governing  in  all  such  cases.) 

Any  State  may  make  all  her  people  legal  voters  for  State  and 
County  officers,  but  none  but  white  male  citizens  of  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years  and  upwards,  shall  hold  or  vote  for  the  office 
of  President,  Senator,  or  Representative  of  the  general  Gov- 
ernment of  the  Sovereign  States  of  North  and  South  America. 

SEC.  13.  When  the  general  Government  of  the  Sovereign 
States  of  North  and  South  America  shall  consist  of  forty  States, 
it  shall  be  the  duty  of  Congress  to  divide  them  into  districts  of 
two,  after  which  each  district  shall  send  one  Senator,  and  each 
State  one  Representative  to  Congress,  and  each  Territory  shall 
send  one  Representative  to  Congress. 

SEC.  14.  Any  State  that  may  be  expelled  from  the  general 
Government,  shall  take  peaceable  possession  of  all  forts,  maga- 
zines, dockyards,  and  all  like  property  within  her  State  limits, 
including  all  that  may  have  been  bought  or  built  before  and 
after  she  became  a  member  of  the  general  Government,  without 
money  and  without  price,  and  the  same  in  case  of  the  withdrawal 
of  any  State. 


21 

SEC.  15.  The  right  of  the  general  Government  to  issue 
letters  of  marque  and  reprisal,  and  to  call  out  the  militia,  shall 
never  be  parted  with  on  any  pretext  or  condition  whatever,  and 
we,  the  people,  hereby  prohibit  all  departments  of  the  general 
Government  from  doing  so. 

SEC.  16.  After  the  year  of  the  Lord,  one  thousand  nine 
hundred,  all  adjacent  Islands  may  be  admitted  as  States  into  the 
general  Government,  but  no  State  of  Europe,  "Asia,'*  or 
"Africa,"  shall  be  admitted  previous  to  the  year  of  our  Lord, 
two  thousand. 

SEC.  17.  Lying  being  of  much  greater  detriment  to  free 
government  than  larceny,  Congress  may  pass  such  laws,  having 
for  their  object  the  prevention  of  the  servants  of  the  general 
Government  from  doing  so.  All  civil  and  military  officers  and 
soldiers  shall  be  the  servants  of  the  people,  within  the  geograph- 
ical limits  of  the  general  Government. 

SEC.  18.  Any  person  being  constitutionally  elected,  and 
doubting  his  ability  to  perform  the  duties  of  President,  may 
decide  who  shall  fill  the  position  in  his  place,  with  the  consent 
of  Congress. 

SEC.  19.  Any  State  may  pass  laws  having  for  their  object 
the  prevention  of  their  State,  County,  and  City  servants  from 
lying,  but  no  special  law  shall  be  passed  prohibiting  her  citizens 
from  lying  to  each  other,  but  any  State  may  pass  laws  having 
for  their  object  the  prevention  of  their  citizens  from  meddling 
with  their  neighbor's  domestic  concerns,  and  any  State  may  pass 
laws  prohibiting  their  citizens  from  lying  to  their  own  or  their 
neighbor's  dumb  brutes,  or  unnecessarily  abusing  them  in 
any  way. 

SEC.  20.  Adopts  Ephesians,  chapter  fifth,  verse  twenty- 
second,  the  same,  sixth  chapter,  verses  first  to  sixteenth — Paul 
to  the  Collosians,  chapter  fourth,  first  verse— Saint  Mark,  chap- 
ter twelfth,  seventeenth  verse,  as  admonitions  to  all  people. 

SEC.  21.  No  secret  political  party  shall  be  tolerated  in  the 
geographical  limits  of  the  general  Government  of  the  Sov- 
ereign States  of  North  and  South  America,  and  the  Congress 
may  pass  laws  having  for  their  object  the  prevention  of  any 


political  or  other  party  or  individual  from  nominating-  any 
person  for  President,  Senator,  or  Representative  of  the  gen- 
eral Government  of  the  Sovereign  States  of  North  and  Sontli 
America,  or  any  persons  declaring  themselves  a  candidate 
for  cither  office. 

SEC.  22.  Congress  shall  make  no  law  respecting  an  estab- 
lishment of  religion  or  prohibiting  the  free  exercise  thereof, 
or  abridging  the  freedom  of  speech,  or  of  the  press,  or  the 
right  of  the  people,  peaceably  to  assemble  and  to  petition  the 
Government  for  redress  of  grievances. 

SEC.  23.  Adopts  all  laws  of  the  United  States  not  con- 
trary to  the  spirit  or  letter  of  this  Constitution,  and  the 
same  shall  be  the  laws  of  the  general  Government  of  the 
Sovereign  States  of  North  and  South  America,  until  they 
shall  have  been  repealed  by  Congress,  or  other  laws  passed  to 
supply  their  place. 

SEC.  24.  Immediately  after  the  first  election  of  President, 
Senators,  and  Representatives,  in  accordance  with  this  Con- 
stitution, it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Governors  of  the  several 
States  to  select  and  prepare  a  place  for  the  first  meeting  of 
Congress.  On  meeting,  the  Senate  shall  appoint  a  President 
pro  tempore  and  proceed  to  business. 

ARTICLE  V. 

The  Congress  whenever  two-thirds  of  both  houses  shall 
deem  it  necessary,  shall  propose  amendments  to  this  Consti- 
tution, or  on  the  application  of  the  Legislatures  of  two-thirds 
of  the  several  States,  shall  call  a  Convention  for  proposing 
amendments,  which  in  either  case  shall  be  valid  to  all  intents 
and  purposes  as  part  of  this  Constitution,  when  ratified  by 
the  Legislatures  of  five-sixths  of  the  several  States,  or  by 
Conventions  in  five-sixths  thereof,  as  the  one  or  the  other 
mode  of  ratification  may  be  proposed  by  the  Congress. 
ARTICLE  VI. 

If  before  any  State  shall  have  ratified  this  Constitution  any 
five  States  of  Central  and  South  America  shall  meet  in  Con- 
vention, they  are  hereby  authorized  to  make  any  amendments 


23 

that  they  think  proper,  or  abolish  the  whole  ;   Provided,  They 
form  and  adopt  a  better  Constitution. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

This  Constitution  and  the  laws  of  the  general  Government 
of  the  Sovereign  States  of  North  and  South  America,  which 
shall  be  made  in  pursuance  thereof,  and  all  treaties  which 
shall  be  made  under  the  authority  of  the  general  Government 
of  the  Sovereign  States  of  North  and  South  America,  shall  be 
the  supreme  law  of  the  land,  and  the  Judges  in  every  State 
shall  be  bound  thereby. 

The  Senators  and  Representatives  before  mentioned,  and 
the  members  of  the  several  State  Legislatures,  and  all  execu- 
tive and  judicial  officers,  both  of  the  general  Government  of 
the  Sovereign  States  of  North  and  South  America  and  of  the 
several  States,  shall  be  bound  by  oath  or  affirmation  to  sup- 
port this  Constitution,  but  no  religious  test  shall  ever  be  re- 
quired as  a  qualification  to  any  office  or  public  trust  under 
the  general  Government  of  the  Sovereign  States  of  North 
and  South  America. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

The  ratification  of  the  Conventions  of  five  States,  shall  be 
sufficient  for  the  establishment  of  this  Constitution,  between 
the  States  so  ratifying  the  same. 

Done  at  the  Twin  House  Ranch,  Solano  County,  California, 
September  12th,  1864.  ROBERT  E.  BEASLEY. 

ADDENDA. 

Whatsoever  God  has  made  inferior,  man  cannot  make 
equal  or  superior. 

All  men  are  not  equally  free  and  equal,  neither  the  angels 
in  Heaven  or  the  demons  in  Hell,  God  the  Father  or  God  the 
Son  (See  St.  Mark,  chap.  13  :  verse  32). 

To  multiply  and  replenish  is  of  God,  the  reverse  is  of  the 
Devil. 

After  this  world  and  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth  shall 
have  been  annexed  to  the  general  Government  of  the  Sov- 
ereign States  of  North  and  South  America,  any  human  being 


24 

may  live  on  any  part  of  it  and  have  all  the  comforts  and  lux- 
uries of  life  that  the  world  produces,  by  paying  the  cost  of 
the  article  where  it  grows  or  is  made,  and  freight  on  the  same, 
together  with  a  small  commission  to  the  merchant. 

It  is  my  individual  opinion  that  this  world  may,  by  the 
wisdom  of  man,  be  made  to  feed  and  clothe  one  thousand 
human  beings  where  there  now  exists  but  one  single  man, 
and  that  what  has  been  in  this  world  may  be  again  (See  St. 
Mark,  chap.  6  :  v.  39 — 44).  I  would  suggest  for  the  consid- 
eration of  the  State  authorities  of  the  several  States  concerned 
in  the  present  war,  said  by  some  to  exist  in  the  United  States, 
the  propriety  of  taking  the  census  of  their  respective  States, 
male  and  female,  as  soon  as  the  war  is  over,  and  passing  laws 
that  will  give  every  one  a  chance  to  have  a  husband  or  a  wife. 
I  do  hereby  declare  it  to  be  my  desire  that  no  State  that  shall 
ever  have  belonged  to  or  composed  part  of  the  United  States 
of  North  America,  shall  ratify  the  foregoing  Constitution 
previous  to  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  eighty-seven*  The  suggestion  of  any  amendment  to  the 
foregoing,  by  any  gentleman  or  lady,  will  be  thankfully  re- 
ceived and  duly  considered.  I  would  respectfully  suggest  as 
the  most  convenient  and  proper  place  for  the  permanent  seat 
of  the  general  Government  of  the  Sovereign  States  of  North 
and  South  America,  somewhere  within  one  or  two  hundred 
miles  of  the  "  Isthmus  of  Panama." 

I  am  fully  persuaded  in  my  own  mind,  principally  from  ob- 
servation, that  man  knows  less  when  he  first  arises  in  this 
world  than  any  of  the  brute  creation,  but  may,  if  not  too 
much  under  the  influence  of  sin  and  deception,  deceit  and 
wickedness,  reach  a  mental  station  that  will  enable  him  to 
almost  view  the  other  and  better  world.  To  this  end  have  I 
cast  all  my  labors,  to  elevate  the  minds  of  men  by  such  a 
standard  as  shall  bring  about  such  a  change  in  the  material 
government  of  earthly  kingdoms  as  shall  influence  all  man- 
kind for  a  glorious  and  happy  future. 

ROBERT  E.  BEASLEY. 


